Northampton flanker Calum Clark has been cited for an incident which led to Leicester's Rob Hawkins suffering a broken elbow in last weekend's LV= Cup final.

Clark, a member of England's elite squad, is charged with hyperextending Hawkins' right arm and he will appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing on Thursday. Hawkins, 28, is expected to be out of action for up to three months and he will miss the remainder of the Tigers' Aviva Premiership season.

"Rob has fractured his elbow and he will be out for eight to 12 weeks," Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury before the citing had been confirmed. "It's a pretty horrendous injury and if Calum Clark is deemed to have done that on purpose by the powers that be and found guilty, it's a pretty poor act.

"In my opinion, it is as bad as I have seen on a rugby field."

Clark was cited for an act contrary to good sportsmanship following a report from citing officer Tony Lanaway. The case will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice by an RFU disciplinary panel chaired by His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett.